10 Open-source Apps I Recommend Every Windows User Download - For Free

3 weeks ago

If you usage Windows, you should effort these open-source apps for amended productivity

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

If Windows is your OS of choice, see these open-source apps.
There are tons of open-source apps for conscionable astir immoderate task.
These are each free to instal and usage connected Windows.

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I've been utilizing open-source software for a very agelong time. In fact, nan past clip I didn't usage open-source software, Bill Clinton was president of nan US.

Open-source package is disposable for astir each operating strategy connected nan market, from desktops to phones, and I often find open-source apps are superior to their proprietary counterparts. If you're a Windows user, you don't person to stay locked into closed-source software, because location are truthful galore alternatives from which you tin choose.

Also: Want to ditch Windows? This Linux distro makes that modulation easy

Let maine present you to immoderate of my favorites.

1. LibreOffice

LibreOffice has been my go-to agency suite since measurement backmost erstwhile it was a shine successful nan oculus of StarOffice, and I haven't looked backmost since. LibreOffice includes each nan devices you're utilized to successful an agency suite and moreover includes a database constituent (similar to MS Access). And pinch a customizable personification interface, you tin activity pinch a modern UI aliases 1 that recalls nan days of yore.

Also: 6 ways LibreOffice is amended than Google Docs for superior penning work

LibreOffice is installed locally, truthful you don't person to interest astir a third-party unreality work accessing your information. You tin group LibreOffice to automatically prevention successful nan MS Office default formats, truthful collaborating pinch those utilizing Microsoft's instrumentality is simply a no-brainer.

LibreOffice is free to download and instal for Windows.

2. Flow Launcher

Flow Launcher is simply a speedy record hunt and app launcher for Windows. With Flow Launcher, you usage a customizable basking cardinal to motorboat nan instrumentality and past hunt for immoderate it is you're looking for. You tin unfastened apps, hunt for files, and browse nan net pinch your default hunt engine. Flow Launcher includes themes, animations, and sounds, and moreover allows you to build your ain customizations. There are besides community-created plugins to widen nan characteristic set.

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Flow Launcher is free to download and install.

3. Duplicati

Duplicati is simply a zero-trust backup solution that tin backmost up from Windows (or immoderate OS) to immoderate destination you need. You tin backmost up to Dropbox, Box, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Amazon Web Services, aliases you tin backmost up to different machines connected your LAN for much privacy. Duplicati allows for scheduling and distant management, and it has a straightforward installation. Your backups are afloat encrypted, and you tin easy show them for real-time insights via a well-designed dashboard.

Also: Your Windows PC has a secretly useful backup instrumentality - here's really to entree it

Duplicati is free for individual use.

4. Nextcloud

If you're tired of utilizing Google aliases Microsoft's cloud-based offerings (especially retired of fearfulness that they are utilizing your information to train LLMs), there's ever Nextcloud, which is nan open-source, locally tally balanced to unreality offerings. Nextcloud includes everything you request for record storage, sharing, collaborating, communicating, organizing, and more. There's besides an app shop wherever you tin instal plugins to widen nan characteristic set.

Also: The champion unreality retention services of 2025: Expert tested

You tin instal and usage Nextcloud connected Windows for free and moreover instal nan Nextcloud Desktop client for moreover easier usage.

5. Franz

If you usage respective messaging apps and services, you mightiness want to see Franz, arsenic it brings each of those messaging apps into 1 user-friendly GUI. Franz allows you to adhd WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, Slack, Telegram, Google Calendar, Discord, LinkedIn, Trello, Office 365 Outlook, Google Keep, and much together, truthful you don't person to move backmost and distant betwixt apps. You tin adhd arsenic galore accounts arsenic you want and easy move betwixt them without leaving nan Franz UI.

Also: 5 devices I spot to support my online conversations backstage and anonymous

Franz is free to instal and use.

6. YAZB

YAZB (aka YAZB Reborn) makes it imaginable to create civilization Windows apical bars (similar to that of MacOS) that tin show adjuvant strategy information, specified arsenic artillery status, net speeds, weather, and much -- each pinch a clean, minimal, elegant style.

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YAZB besides gives you speedy entree to shutdown/restart controls, customizable themes/icons/layouts, and allows you to adhd arsenic galore adjuvant widgets arsenic you need.

7. File Converter

If you've ever needed to easy person aliases compress a record successful Windows, File Converter has your back. Using a right-click discourse paper introduction (within nan record manager), you tin person audio, video, images, and documents from 1 format to another. In nan lawsuit of documents, you tin person astir immoderate format into a PDF. You tin besides compress files successful nan aforesaid way.

Also: How to upgrade an 'incompatible' Windows 10 PC to Windows 11 - 2 free options

The only caveat is that, successful bid to person MS Office files, you'll person to person MS Office installed. You tin customize nan exertion bid wrong nan discourse paper and moreover adhd aliases region presets.

File Converter is free to instal and usage connected Windows.

8. Bitwarden

If you don't usage a password manager, you should commencement immediately. If you request a password manager, you should spot Bitwarden astatine nan apical of your list. Not only is Bitwarden open-source, but it's besides 1 of nan champion password managers connected nan market.

With each characteristic you'll request (including a web browser extension), Bitwarden tin do much to thief support you protected by simplifying nan process of utilizing strong, unsocial passwords. This open-source password head includes a password generator (that tin do some passwords and walk phrases), Bitwarden Send (to nonstop files and matter safely), and more.

Also: NordPass vs. Bitwarden: Which password head is best?

Bitwarden tin beryllium installed and utilized for free connected Windows. You mightiness moreover see purchasing a license, arsenic it gives you much collaboration features, which tin travel successful useful pinch a ample family aliases organization.

9. AutoHotKey

AutoHotKey is an automation scripting connection for Windows that allows you to specify hotkeys for some rodent and keyboard, remap keys aliases buttons, and more. With AutoHotKey, you tin automate conscionable astir immoderate desktop task.

Also: 5 free Windows PC apps I ever instal first (and really they amended your workflow)

Essentially, this app makes it easy to activity pinch hotkeys and macros, while helping you activity much efficiently. There is simply a learning curve to AutoHotKey, but erstwhile you've learned it, you'll beryllium gladsome you took nan clip to do so.

AutoHotKey tin beryllium installed and utilized for free connected Windows.

10. Ollama

If you want to usage AI but don't for illustration nan thought of a 3rd statement utilizing your queries aliases information to train their LLMs, see nan open-source Ollama, which is easy to usage and moreover includes a well-designed GUI for interacting and adding models.

Also: This is nan fastest section AI I've tried, and it's not moreover adjacent - really to get it

With Ollama, you tin activity pinch a ample selection of models, ranging from nan mini to nan very large. One point to support successful mind, however, is that nan larger nan model, nan much strategy resources it will require. You would besides beryllium champion served by utilizing Ollama connected a Windows instrumentality pinch a dedicated GPU.

Ollama tin beryllium installed and utilized for free connected Windows.